Eivind Ertesvag 
A courageous act that saved a young life.
What began as a seemingly ordinary day for Jonathan Bauer and his 13-year-old daughter soon unfolded into an unforgettable drama.
It was one of those days where you expect everything to go as usual, but fate had other plans. Jonathan and his daughter had decided to take a longer route home from work to enjoy a beautiful view. Little did they know that they would soon witness a dramatic accident on the bridge over Assawoman Bay in Ocean City, Maryland.
The peaceful drive was suddenly interrupted by the screeching of tires. A car in front of them lost control, swerving wildly before crashing into the guardrail and teetering over the edge of the bridge.
Jonathan and his daughter were caught in the chain-reaction collision, shattering their car’s windows. Though his daughter was covered in glass shards, she was fortunately unharmed.
A Desperate Race Against Time
With his daughter safe, Jonathan quickly noticed another driver struggling to escape their vehicle. When the man finally freed himself, he pointed desperately towards the water. Jonathan followed his gaze and was horrified to see a little girl floating on her back in the water, dressed in a pink dress. The girl was barely moving, and Jonathan knew he had to act fast.
Time was of the essence, and there were no boats nearby. Without hesitation, Jonathan shouted to his daughter to stay by the car while he prepared to do the unthinkable—jump from the bridge to save the girl. It’s important to note that Jonathan suffers from extreme acrophobia, so jumping into the water from the seven-meter-high bridge was far from an easy decision.
He hit the water feet first and quickly swam towards the little girl. Upon reaching her, he lifted her onto his shoulders and began patting her back to help her cough up the water.
A True Hero
Jonathan Bauer’s actions that day were praised by many. Eight people were taken to the hospital following the accident, including the two-year-old girl who was later transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. The bridge was closed for six hours due to the collision.
The city’s mayor, Rick Meehan, honored Jonathan, his daughter, and his wife by making them honorary citizens. Jonathan also received a plaque in recognition of his heroic efforts.
“Jonathan is truly a humble hero, and that makes this even more special,” Meehan said.
For many of us, it’s hard to imagine how we would react in a similar situation. But Jonathan showed us that heroes walk among us, ready to act when it truly matters. This is a story of courage, of a father who defied his fear of heights, and of a small child who was given the gift of life thanks to a stranger’s brave action.
